Wednesday, December 26, 2018

On Tuesday 11 December 2018, Donald Trump met with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in the Oval Office. Among many things, President Trump said, "... If we don't get what we want - one way or the other - whether it's through you - through a [sic] military - through anything you wanna call, I will shut down the government, absolutely" and "I am proud to shut down the government ..." as well as "... I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down ...".

A partial shutdown of the federal government began on 12:01 AM on Saturday, 22 December 2018. The reason for shutdown arises from President Trump's insistence on 5 billion dollars to fund a border wall - a demand which the Democrats refuse. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of some of the behavior exhibited during this televised Oval Office meeting.

During 5:33 just after he says, "Nancy, would you like to say something?", the President displays a Tight Tongue Jut - signifying his disdain, disgust, and repulsion for the future Speaker of the House.

During 5:57, just after he repeats Nancy Pelosi's coined nomenclature, "The Trump Shutdown", the President displays a classic contempt expression.

Note Pelosi's restraint - as she grips her right hand, holding herself back.

A few seconds later (6:55), after interrupting Representative Pelosi multiple times, just after President Trump says "... Nancy, I'd have it passed in two seconds ...", Nancy Pelosi momentarily sequesters all of the fingers on her right hand - save one, her middle finger.

This behavior is an excellent example of what is known as a Partial Emblematic Slip. (Partial, because the straightened middle finger is not in it's usual, full-fledged-arm-held-upright position. Emblematic, because the meaning of an extended middle finger is known the world over. And Slip, because it's a subconscious act). In this moment, the future Speaker of the House is very much (albeit subconsciously) flipping off the President in the Oval Office.

Beginning at 6:54, Trump says, "It doesn't matter though because we can't get it passed it the Senate because we need ten Democrat votes, that's the problem". Then, during 6:58, as he says the word, "votes", Trump falsely adjusts his suit jacket with his right hand. This signifies the President's anxiety - and more specifically, an anxiety-provoked attempt at alpha up-regulation. Another way to think of this is we are seeing an alpha personality, who is temporarily more beta - and he's trying to dial himself back up to his alpha status. Once again, it's crucial that this is occurring in the Oval Office.

During 7:36, just after President Trump says, "Okay, let me ask you this - and we're doing this in a very friendly manner", Nancy Pelosi displays an insincere mouth smile as she also closes her eyes (eyelids). This is dismissive - and signals strong disagreement with the President's assertion of conducting himself in a "friendly manner".

Note the President uses the contraction, "we're" - when it is him alone who is "doing this". Such language is an excellent paralanguage tell (statement analysis) of what is known as Diffusion of Responsibility or Forced Teaming (de Becker) (a manipulative technique Trump uses often).

Beginning at 8:02, after Pelosi says, "The fact is you do not have the Votes in the House", Trump begins his retort, "Nancy, I do ...". Note that during 8:04, Pelosi's palm-up gesture is simultaneous with Trump's palm-down configuration. Her body language is much more rapport-building - while his nonverbals are rapport destroying.

At 8:14, Trump says, "People are pouring into our country, including terrorists" - he gestures with his index finger (aka forefinger). Notice that other fingers are not fully retracted. This alone demonstrates a lack of conviction.

Then, during 8:17 - 8:18, as he says, "We caught ten terrorists over the last very short period of time", Trump contracts his right index finger, when only seconds before he had been pointing with it with the other fingers curled. This sudden change in dynamic (the complete opposite digit configuration) strongly telegraphs his deception. Trump completely lacks confidence in what he just said as he retracts the most dominant digit of his dominant hand.

During 8:23, Donald Trump extends his right leg moving closer to Nancy Pelosi and sits closer to the edge of his chair. This aggressive posture and alpha dynamic cause her anxiety as she leans away from him and she repositions herself on the sofa.

During 8:33 the President says, "We need border security of which the wall is just a piece, but it's - important". During the end of his sentence ("but it's - important"), Trump displays a hyper-alpha, double index finger point.

And as Nancy Pelosi begins to speak again - he cuts off her response by immediately pointing to Senator Schumer with his right hand saying, "Chuck, did you want to say something?"

Donald Trump displays a Forward Lip Purse immediately after Chuck Schumer says, "We do not want to shut down the government" (8:58 - 8:59 - and later during 9:01 - 9:03, 9:16). Note Schumer then uses an Index Finger Point vectored toward the President, as he says, "You have called twenty times to shut down the government ...".

Trump telegraphs his thoughts every time he displays this body language behavior (something he does quite often). A forward lip purse indicates dramatic disagreement which is not being fully verbally expressed. Such disagreement is often quite clandestine. Their plans may be disclosed only a moment later - but often not for days or weeks (or longer). A person who uses a forward lip purse views themselves as the unequivocal alpha in the room. Additionally, anyone who uses this lip dynamic believes that they have a good chance of being successful with their plans.

The take-home lesson: if you see anyone use a forward lip purse - protect your flank.

10:14 - Trump is projecting his hands forward - forming a nonverbal wall between himself and his two adversaries - while Pelosi's hand right hand is open and upward (as she is speaking about keeping the government open) - and Schumer's hands are clasped in frustration.

10:17 - Pelosi then, defensively, pushes back against Trump with a similar palm forward gesture - although with a just a single hand.

11:09 - Trump displays a bilateral False Jacket Adjustment with a simultaneous Loose Tongue Jut. By straightening his suit jacket when it wasn't needed - the President is attempting to up-regulate his alpha status (he feels relatively beta and believes he needs to dial up his alpha). This is very similar behavior to when a gorilla is beating on his chest.

At 11:22 Sarah Huckabee Sanders can be seen displaying Contempt after Senator Schumer says, "and the experts say you can do border security without a wall which is wasteful and doesn't solve the problem."

Beginning at 13:37 Trump continues, "... I also know, that ya know Nancy's in a situation where it's not easy for her to talk right now - and I understand that - and I fully understand that. We're going to have a good discussion and we're going to see what happens ..."

Pelosi responds with, "... Mr. President, please don't characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting ..." - as she uses a Fingers-Together-Palms-Down gesture (13:54).

Pelosi then segues into an Aggressive/Alpha Index Finger Point as she continues, "... as the leader of the House Democrats" - while the President is simultaneously displaying a mild expression of Contempt.

As Nancy Pelosi says, "... This is about the security of our country. You take an oath to protect and defend and we don't want to have that mischaracterized by anyone ...", she also nonverbally reminds everyone of the Oath as holds her hand upright.

Donald Trump, at the same time, performs another false jacket adjustment (see above) and then crosses his arms in a fist hidden fashion (14:23). Virtually every time Donald Trump crosses his arms, he does so in a hands-hidden fashion - with his hands forming fists. This nonverbal configuration projects a beta soup of emotions:

In addition, the President immediately looks downward - the direction of gaze most often displayed during guilt and shame.

Senator Schumer grips his right wrist with his left hand (14:50) in a moment of self-restraint.

As Schumer verbally refutes Trump - he displays what is known as a Pistol Steeple. This nomenclature is accurate not only because the hand configuration physically resembles a gun - but also because it's used when a person is in strong disagreement with another - metaphorically shooting down what they're saying/proposing (as Schumer says, "... No, no, no. Twenty times, twenty times, twenty times, you have called for ...").

Schumer then pounds his right fist onto his left palm as the Senator quotes the President's threats to shut down the government (15:01 - 15:03) if he doesn't get his wall.

Note that this makes Trump feel beta (again, while in the Oval Office) - and his psyche responds with yet another attempt at alpha-upregulation via a false jacket adjustment.

After pointing at Schumer, "You wanna know something? ...", Trump then points at his own chest, "... Okay you want to put that on my ..." (pointing first with his left [less dominant] hand) ...

... and again during 15:07 - although this time he curiously points at his own throat. Throat pointing at oneself implies an ominous omen.

As the President goes on to say, "You know what I'll say, Yes. If we don't get what we want - one way or the other - whether it's through you, through a [sic] military, through anything you wanna call - I will shut down the government - absolutely. And I am proud, and I'll tell ya what. I am proud to shut down the government ...", Schumer again displays a self-restraining wrist grab - thus down-ratcheting his responses.

At first glance, a casual observer may think that Trump is holding his own hands in the same manner as Schumer - however, Trump's hand-clasping-hand display (rather than hand-grabbing-wrist) signifies a completely different set of emotions. The President, while in the Oval Office, is configured in what is known as a Fig-Leaf (aka Genital Guarding). This is a significantly beta posture - for, despite the President's bluster, he feels vulnerable and in need of protection.

The President then goes on to say to Senator Schumer, "I will take the mantle" as well as, "I'm not going to blame you for it".

Throughout this last exchange with Schumer (15:19 - 15:48), Trump holds his upper arms close to each side of his torso. Trump displays this particular nonverbal behavior often - however, here it is particularly glaring. If he had sincere confidence in his statements, the President would hold his upper arms and elbows out several inches. His words do not, at all, match his body language. This beta posture once again betrays Trump's lack of confidence.

SUMMARY: Donald Trump's nonverbal behavior clearly shows that he does, indeed, believe the wall is important - however, for his own political survival, not for the country's safety. During this Oval Office interaction, the President exhibited multiple beta emotional displays of low confidence, defensiveness, closed-mindedness. He also was being deceptive when said, "We caught ten terrorists over the last very short period of time".

President Trump also fears Representative Pelosi a good bit more than he does Senator Schumer. Moreover, Trump thought Pelosi was the most skilled politician in the Oval Office on that day.

Among other problems, Donald Trump has Impulse Control Disorder. And, whether Senator Schumer realizes it or not, he very much baited the President. Trump took the bait and quickly painted himself into a corner.

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This website serves as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.

This website serves as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.